Fletching jigs



H. M. THOMPSON FLETCHING JIGS Dec. 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.16, 1956 m m m m HARLAN M. THOMPSON fi BY ATTO R N EYS Dec. 22, 19592,918,097

H. M. THOMPSON FLETCHING JIGS Filed Oct. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. HARLAN M. THOMPSON ATTOR NEYJ FLETCHING JIGS Harlan M.Thompson, Portland, reg., assignor t0 Julius J. Hauck, Salem, Oreg.

Application ()ctober 16, 1956, Serial No. 616,283

2 Claims. (Cl. 144289) The present invention relates to improvements infletching jigs, and more particularly to a jig which is adapted for thepositioning and gluing of feathers to the shafts of arrows.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fletching jig forpositioning the feathers on the shaft of arrows, either parallel withthe shaft, or at an angle to the shaft, holding the feathers to theshaft while the attaching glue sets.

Another object of this new fletching jig is to provide Simple means forholding the arrow shaft in place while the feathers are brought intocontact therewith in the gluing of the same to the arrow shaft. in theuse of this new fletching device, all of the feathers are secured to theshaft simultaneously in one gluing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting theangle of the feather to the shaft by a simple mechanism, controlling theposition of all feathers simultaneously, to a predetermined position,indicated to the operator, by graduation marks on the device.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in light of the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure l is a side elevation of my new and improved arrow fletching jig,partially broken away for convenience of illustration, and with one ofthe feather holding clamps shown inexploded position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken onthe line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated, with thelower feather holding clamp shown in exploded position for convenienceof illustration in the drawing, this clamp also shown in explodedposition with relation to the feather to be glued to the shaft of thearrow.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view, partially broken away for convenienceof illustration, of the arrow shaft centering and holding mechanism withthe arrow shaft shown in section.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Figure1 looking in the direction indicated. Figure 5 is a transverse sectionalview, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the directionindicated. Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view with parts brokenaway for convenience of illustration, taken on the line 66 of Figure 1,looking in the direction indicated. i Figure 7 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 77 of Figure 1, looking inthe dir'ection indicated.

i Figu're 8 is a perspective view of one of the shaft centering andholding fingers.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the feather clamp holdingguideways removed from the fletching device.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the centering clamping ring adaptedto operate the holding jaws.

1 Figure 11- is a rear end view of thearrow'afte r the' arrowshaft'clan'iping' and feathers have been glued thereto, showing thefeathers at an angle to the shaft.

Figure 12 is a side view of the shaft of the arrow illustrating how thefeathers are glued thereto at a slight angle to the shaft.

Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line l313 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatical plan of a base adapted to support a seriesof fletching devices. This base is adapted to be revolved in front ofthe operator, bringing each fletching device into position.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 1515 ofFigure 6, looking in the direction indicated.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several figures, the referencecharacter V indicates a vise assembly mounted upon a base B and forminga fletching jig constructed in accordance with the invention.

The vise assembly V consists of a pair of arrow shaft holding heads Hand H spaced apart in axial alignment with each other by a plurality ofspacing rods 20. p

The structure of the head H will be first described, referring to Figure6, particularly. The head H consists of a stationary disk-like member21. A second disk-like member 22 having a rim 23 formed thereon isadapted to engage the face of the first member 21. The two members 21and 22 are held together between ends 24 of the spacers 20 and aretaining plate 25 by threaded screws 26. The members 21 and 22 have anopening 27 passing through their centers, adapted to receive a shaft 28of the arrow to which feathers 29 are to be applied.

The shaft 28 of the arrow is held centrally of the opening 27 in thefollowing manner, referring particularly to Figures 3 and 6. A ring 30is adapted to operate with-, in a groove 31 formed in the face of thebody member 22. Forming part of the ring 30 is an outwardly extendingstud bolt 32, which passes through a slot 33 within the retaining plate25 of the head assembly H. A thumb nut 34 is threaded to the stud bolt32 and is adapted to hold the ring 30 in a fixed circumferentiallyadjusted position.

Arrow shaft 28 holding jaws 35 are each pivotally mounted to one of aplurality of stub pins 36 which form part of the body member 22. Thejaws 35 are opened and closed by the action of their bifurcated ends 37,each of which embrace one of stub pins 38 on the ring 30. On rotatingthe ring 30 within the groove 31 of the body member 22, the jaws 35 arepivoted about the pins 36 opening or closing them in regards to thearrow shaft 28.

The head H is adapted to hold the butt 39 of the arrow shaft 28 inalignment with the opening 27 of the head H. The head H consists of astationary disk-like body member 40. A second disk-like stationary bodymember 41 is clamped to the face of the bodymember 40 by the screws 42,which in turn clamp the head H to the spacing rods 20, holding the viseV in assembled position. A cylindrical boss 43 extends axially outwardlyfrom the member 40 and is adapted to enter the socket 44 formed on theupper end of a pedestal 45 of the. base B.

Referring now to Figures 6, 7 and 15, a relatively flat member 46 isadapted to enter the socket 44 engaging in grooves 47. Referringparticularly to Figure .15, the member 46-is notched out in the form ofa V at 48. The V at 48 is adapted to center the butt 39 of the shaft 28of the arrow. The member 46 is adapted to enter the notch 49 formed inthe butt of the arrow, holding the butt 39 of the arrow in a centralposition relative to the head" H.

ed between the heads H and H within adjustable guideways 50. The clamp Cconsists of a pair of jaws 51 and 52. The jaws 51 and 52 are held inalignment with one another and towards one another by the hand clip 53,referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2. The clip 53 consists of jaws54 pivotally connected together at 55 and compressed together by thespring member 56. The clips 53 extend beyond their pivot center-55 intooperating levers 57, which are adapted to be compressed by the operator,thereby opening or spreading the jaws 51 and 52 so that the feather 29can be clamped therebetween.

The guideways 50 consist of elongated channel members 58. The members 58have bosses 59 forming part thereof and extending therebeyond andadapted to pass through the slots 60 formed in the body member 41 of thehead H and the slots 60 of the member 21 of the head H. The bosses 59extend into reduced spindle portions 61, which are adapted to passthrough the slots or notches 62 formed in the periphery of the ring 63of the head H and the ring 64 of the head H.

The ring 63 is adapted to operate within the recess 65 formed within theface of the body member 40 of the head H. The ring 64 is adapted tooperate within the recess 66 formed within the disk-like member 22 ofthe head H. The rings 63 and 64 have outwardly extending threaded studs67 forming part thereof and operating through the slot 68 formed withinthe body 40 and the slot 69 formed within the rim 23 of the body member22 of the head H. Thumb nuts 70 are adapted to tighten on the stud 67,preventing the rings 63 and 64 from rotating when tightened down.

The center lines of the guideways 50 are maintained in a radial positionrelative to the heads H and H by the flat sides 71 formed on the bosses59. The flat sides 71 of the bosses 59 operate within the slots 60formed in the body members 21 and 41 also they are further maintained inalignment by sliding on the guide rods 72, which are fixedly secured tothe body members 21 at 73 by any suitable means, as for instance beingnested in a slot which is peened over by a tool, maintaining the ends ofthe rods 72 in fixed position relative to the slots 60. The rods 72 passthrough the bosses 59, holding the guideway 50 in position relative tothe heads H and H.

The spindle portions 61 of the bosses 59, as stated above, enter slots62 formed within the rings 63 and 64. By rotating the rings 63 and 64,after loosening the thumb nuts 70, the guideways 50 can be positionedacross the headsH and H in such a manner as to align the bases 74 of thefeathers 29 at an angle to the center line of the shaft 28 of the arrow,either to the right or to the left. The finished position of thefeathers 29 being illustrated in Figure 12.

The heads H and H are each provided with a scale 75 to indicate therelationship of each end of the clamps C to the center line of thefietching jig V. In the drawings' I have illustrated the clamps C inalignment with the center line of the jig for convenience ofillustration, but as a rule they would be positioned at an angle to the1 8- 'Springs 76 are nested within the guideways 50 and are adapted tobear against the sides 52 of the clamp C when the clamps C are in place,holding them to the desired fixed and adjusted position within the jig.The springs 76 are best illustrated in Figure 2. In the drawings I haveillustrated only one of the jaws 51, 52 extending into the guideways 50,but both of them could extend into the guideways 50.

The mode of operation of this new and improved fletching jig is asfollows. The thumb nut 34 is loosened from against the plate 25,permitting the rotation of the ring 30 in a direction to open the jaws35 sufficient to permit the inserting of the shaft 28 of the'arrowtherethrough. The butt 39 of the arrow is inserted within the socket 144of thehead 1H, thenotchv 49 of. the butt of the arrow straddling theflat member 46 within the socket 44 and into the V 48 of this member 44centering the butt of the arrow within the head H. When this isaccomplished the ring 30 is rotated in a direction to close the jaws 35against the shaft 28 of the arrow, holding the same solidly in positionfor applying the feathers 29 thereto.

The clamps C are removed from the guideways 50 and the feathers 29 areclamped therebetween. The base 74 of the feathers having had glue orother adherent material applied thereto. The clamps C are then insertedwithin the guideways 50 and forced towards the shaft 28 of the arrowbringing the bases 74 of the feathers 29 tightly against the shaft 28.The guideways 50 having been previously set by adjusting them relativeto the center line of the jig.

In order to accomplish this, the thumb nuts 70 are loosened, permittingthe rings 63 and 64 to be revolved within the heads H and H of the jig,positioning the guideways 50 within the slots 60 of the heads H and H,bringing the clamp C to the desired angle to the shaft 28, therebyaligning the feathers 29 to the angle while the same are glued to theshaft 28.

As stated above the angle of mounting the feathers 29 to the shaft 28can be predetermined by observing the scale 75 when adjusting therings63 and- 64 by way of the thumb nuts 70. As described above, when therings 63 and 64 are revolved within the heads H and H they move thebosses 59 along the slots 60 formed in the heads H and H by way of thespindle portions 61 cooperating with the slots 62 formed in the rings 63and 64. Any adjustment can be had in regards to the angle of thefeathers 29 to the shaft 28 by the positioning of the guideways 50,either a right or left setting can be made of the feathers 29.

Referring to Figure 14, a series of fietching jigs can be mounted to thebase B, which in turn may be rotatedin front of the operator as thefeathers 29 are applied to the arrow shafts 28 to permit a multipleproduction line operation wherein the drying time for the glue can beutilized in applying additional feathers 29;

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fietching jig for supporting an arrow shaft and feathers beingapplied thereto comprising a base, a first disk assembly rigidly securedto said base, a second disk assembly arranged in spaced apart parallelrelation to said first disk assembly, said disk assemblies having theiraxes aligned, each disk assembly comprising a first stationary disk anda second stationary disk secured thereto and forming a recess betweensaid disks, a ring member rotatably mounted in said recess, said ringhaving slots therein, guides extending through said slots for movementswith said ring and extending interiorly of said second disk inconfronting relation to the guides'of-the opposite disk assembly, aplurality of circumferentially spaced rods extending between and rigidlysecured to said disk assemblies whereby said second disk assembly isrigidly mounted with respect to said first disk assembly, means on saidfirst disk assembly including a tapered boss on said first stationarydisk and a fiat plate in said boss, for supporting one end of an arrowshaft centrally of said first disk assembly, said second disk assemblyhaving an axial arrow shaft receiving bore extending therethrough, aplurality of simultaneous and radially adjustable arrow shaft clampingjaws mounted on said second disk of said second disk assembly foraxially aligning and rigidly supporting an arrow shaft extending throughaid s cond disk assem ly, a pl r ty of l ngitudinally extending featherclamps arranged in circumferentially spaced relation between said diskassemblies, and means comprising said guides on said disk assembliessupporting the opposite ends of said feather clamps, said guides beingcircumferentially adjustable with respect to said disk assemblies bymeans of said rings whereby said feather clamps are angularly adjustablein relation to the axis of the arrow shafts so that the feathers may beapplied to the arrow shaft at an angle to the axis thereof.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein set screw means are providedon each of said disk assemblies for rigidly securing said rings andhence said feather clamp supporting guides in adjusted position withrespect to said disk assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBelshaw Feb. 7, 1933 Birchall Jan. 30, 1934 Rohde June 16, 1942Bitzenburger Dec. 21, 1943 Young Apr. 15, 1947 Eaton Aug. 23, 1949 VonZelewsky Nov. 2, 1954 Ice May 21, 1957 Hoyt May 27, 1958

